Re: 10 Years Anniversary HUAN ZHU GE GE
Part One
Huan Zhu Ge Ge is the story of an orphan whose life changes after she is accidentally named princess.
It starts off with the tale of two sworn sisters: orphaned adventuress Xiao Yan Zi and Zi Wei, a talented young lady with an interesting history. Zi Wei is actually the illegitimate daughter of Emperor Qianlong. Eighteen years ago, Qianlong had an affair with her mother, Xia Yu He, at Lake Daming in Jinan. Because of political reasons, Qianlong left Yu He, promising to return for her. However, Yu He was already pregnant with his child and waited faithfully for his return. On her deathbed, Yu He asks Zi Wei to find her father, Qianlong.
Zi Wei takes on this arduous task with her servant Jin Suo. After the two arrive in Beijing, they discover the challenges of entering the Forbidden City. Meanwhile, they meet Xiao Yan Zi, a clever and daring girl around their age. Having been abandoned at a young age, Xiao Yan Zi lives with her buddies Liu Qing and Liu Hong in the Da Zha Yuan. Zi Wei and Xiao Yan Zi soon develop a meaningful friendship. As Zi Wei runs out of supplies and money, she moves in with Xiao Yan Zi who earns her trust. Zi Wei tells Xiao Yan Zi her huge secret mission.
Xiao Yan Zi agrees to help Zi Wei with her mission. They plan to meet Qianlong during his hunting trip to a local mountain. However, climbing up the mountain turns out to be a challenging task. The frail Zi Wei and Jin Suo struggle to climb up. Hence, Zi Wei decides to send Xiao Yan Zi as her trustworthy messenger. She gives Xiao Yan Zi a fan and painting, both gifts that Qianlong gave Yu He years ago.
Unfortunately, Xiao Yan Zi is shot with an arrow by Yong Qi, the fifth prince who was originally aiming for a deer. Wounded and barely conscious, Xiao Yan Zi does not have the energy to explain her mission to Qianlong. When Qianlong sees Xiao Yan Zi carrying his fan and painting, he assumes Xiao Yan Zi is Yu He's daughter. He treats Xiao Yan Zi so kindly that she decides to "borrow" Zi Wei's father for a few days. However, she is soon overcomed with guilt.
Meanwhile, Zi Wei is extremely worried about Xiao Yan Zi, afraid that she was captured and executed as a female assassin. However, when she witnesses Xiao Yan Zi parading the streets with Qianlong in a palaquin with the title "Huan Zhu Ge Ge", she believes Xiao Yan Zi has deceived her. Hurt and confused, she chases after the palaquin, screaming Xiao Yan Zi's name. The commotion she causes alerts the guards who rush to restrain her, but when Fu Er Kang, one of the Emperor's bodyguards, hears hints that she might be telling the truth, he rescues her.
Zi Wei and Jin Suo are persuaded by the Fus to live in the Fu household, Xue Shi Fu, temporarily. Xiao Yan Zi also realizes the greatness of her error where she might be beheaded if she tells the truth. Because both Yong Qi and Er Tai are infatuated with Xiao Yan Zi, they ask Zi Wei to keep quiet about her secret.
Slowly, Er Kang and Zi Wei begin to fall in love. Er Kang realizes their marriage is impossible, however, because he cannot marry Zi Wei if she only has the status of a commoner.
Xiao Yan Zi has her own troubles in the Forbidden City, as her outlandish behaviour and lack of sense of propriety offends the Empress. Even Qianlong becomes overwhelmed with Xiao Yan Zi's disobedience and outspokenness. He punishes Xiao Yan Zi with twenty beatings, despite pleas from Ling Fei, Yong Qi, and Er Tai. However, Qianlong and Xiao Yan Zi soon mend fences.
Sensing the romance between Zi Wei and Er Kang, Er Kang's parents, Fu Da Ren and Fu Jin, kindly ask Zi Wei to give up Er Kang. Heartbroken, Zi Wei and Jin Suo leave Xue Shi Fu without notice, leaving Er Kang in panic. After his search for Zi Wei is unsuccessful, he calls for the help of Xiao Yan Zi. Together, they manage to find out where Zi Wei is from Liu Qing and Liu Hong. When they finally find Zi Wei, they decide it is perhaps the best idea to sneak Zi Wei into the Forbidden City as well.
Zi Wei, along with Jin Suo, enjoys an excellent start in the Forbidden City. Although Zi Wei is but a court maid, Qianlong quickly takes notice of her. He takes a liking to her talent, intelligence, and kindness. This arouses the jealousy of the Empresses, who views Zi Wei as a potential political threat. She secretly brings Zi Wei to her palace, Kun Ning Gong, and pierces her with needles. Zi Wei nearly dies, but is rescued by Qianlong, Xiao Yan Zi, Er Kang, Er Tai, and Yong Qi. The relationship between Qianlong and Zi Wei grows deeper as Qianlong becomes more amazed by Zi Wei's talents. His love for Xiao Yan Zi and Zi Wei becomes so great that he takes them on his Wei Fu Chu Xing.
Qianlong uses the time to enjoy life outside the Forbidden City. Hoping to reveal Zi Wei's true identity without angering Qianlong, Er Kang, Yong Qi, and Er Tai suggest that they ask for a special order from Qianlong, promising that he will never execute Zi Wei and Xiao Yan Zi.
During the trip, feelings between Xiao Yan Zi and Yong Qi begin to arise. Yong Qi begins to have a crush on Xiao Yan Zi after discovering she is not really his sister. However, their relationship is awkward because they are currently considered brother-sister. When Yong Qi first admits his feelings to Xiao Yan Zi, she is confused and bewildered. But, when Xiao Yan Zi is jealous of another girl who likes Yong Qi, she cannot hide her feelings for him. The romance between Zi Wei and Er Kang grows deeper. Unfortunately, Qianlong, not knowing Zi Wei is his daughter, falls in love with Zi Wei as well. Along the way, Xiao Yan Zi fights injustice, rescuing many civilians.
Qianlong's Wei Fu Chu Xing is abruptly put to a halt when an assassination attempt is made on the emperor. Zi Wei shields Qianlong from a knife aimed at him. Everyone manages to get rid of the assassins, but Zi Wei's life is at risk. Zi Wei then asks Qianlong never to execute Xiao Yan Zi. Qianlong agrees, but the mood is not calm at all. Thinking she is on her deathbed, Zi Wei also asks Er Kang to marry Jin Suo, her loyal servant and friend.
Surprisingly, Zi Wei manages to survive getting stabbed. Qianlong's admiration for her grows stronger because of her remarkable bravery. After returning to the Forbidden City, Qianlong hints that he wants to take Zi Wei in as his concubine. Meanwhile, the king of Tibet and his daughter, Princess Sai Ya, have arrived in Beijing.
Sai Ya and Xiao Yan Zi quickly develop a rivalry, as Sai Ya's kung fu skills stir up feelings of competition. After fighting against Er Kang in a match, Sai Ya develops a crush on Er Kang. Her father asks Qianlong if he can arrange a marriage between Sai Ya and Er Kang. Although Qianlong originally intended to save Er Kang for Xiao Yan Zi, he agrees, creating huge dilemmas for Zi Wei and Er Kang.
At this point, Xiao Yan Zi, Zi Wei, Yong Qi, Er Kang, Er Tai, and Jin Suo decide it is time to reveal their secret. Qianlong is shocked to discover Zi Wei is his true daughter, as he had once considered taking her in as a concubine. He is hurt to know that Xiao Yan Zi and Zi Wei, two people he trusted most, had tricked him. The Empress takes advantage of the situation to tell Qianlong that she always knew something was wrong with Xiao Yan Zi and Zi Wei. After pressuring from the Empress, Qianlong agrees to imprison Xiao Yan Zi and Zi Wei in Zhong Ren Fu, even though Ling Fei pleas that he reconsiders. Jin Suo, wanting to risk her life rather than Zi Wei's, joins them. Yong Qi, Er Kang, and Er Tai are in great turmoil.
Hoping to finish Xiao Yan Zi and Zi Wei once and for all, Huang Hou conspires with Liang Da Ren, the man in charge of Zhong Ren Fu. She orders him to force Xiao Yan Zi, Zi Wei, and Jin Suo to sign a document stating they disguised as princesses in an attempt to murder Qianlong. Refusing to sign such a ridiculous document, the three girls are whipped harshly. Knowing that the three cannot survive long in such conditions, Yong Qi, Er Kang, and Er Tai decide to risk their lives. They break into the jail and free the three girls. Because they have broken the law, they decide to run away forever.
At the same time, Qianlong begins to regret his actions. He realizes how much he has grown to love Xiao Yan Zi and Zi Wei. His officers and Ling Fei also ask that he release them. Qianlong goes to Zhong Ren Fu and decides to let them go, but is aghast that they had escaped earlier. Furious, Qianlong orders that they be found and all executed.
Feelings of guilt arise as Xiao Yan Zi and her entourage run away. Er Tai decides to return to the Forbidden City and explain matters to Qianlong. Knowing that Er Tai is most likely to be beheaded, Zi Wei begs that they all return and face Qianlong. They soon agree and return to the Forbidden City.
Qianlong originally intends to behead them all, but when he sees that the three girls have been whipped, he is heartbroken. He orders them to return to Shu Fang Zai, where they reside in the Forbidden City, to rest, but they refuse to go until he has forgiven Yong Qi, Er Kang, and Er Tai. Qianlong does not want to at first, but when he realizes the entire matter is actually his fault, he relents. He knows that if he had not gotten involved with Yu He alone in the first place, there would be no fiasco. He also cannot bear to kill his favourite people. Thus, he forgives them all.
At Shu Fang Zai, Qianlong recognizes Zi Wei as his daughter. He hand-feeds her medicine and the two share a father-daughter hug. Because of Qianlong's liking for her, Xiao Yan Zi keeps her title as Huan Zhu Ge Ge.
Everyone is overjoyed, except for the Empress and Rong Mo Mo. The Empress reprimands Qianlong for being tricked by "some eighteen-year-old girls". However, Qianlong ignores her and questions her on her involvement in conspiring against the girls. Angered, Qianlong orders for the Empress' and Rong Mo Mo's immediate removal to Zhong Ren Fu. Yong Qi begs Qianlong to reconsider his verdict as it is inappropriate to punish the "Mother of the Country". In her anger and desperation, the Empress snatches a nearby scissors and cuts part of her hair off, upset that Qianlong no longer considers her thoughts. Zi Wei pleads mercy on their behalf, hoping that she will make peace with the Empress. Qianlong agrees, and the rivalry seems to have ended.
The last obstacle is the proposal between Sai Ya and Er Kang. However, it is easily solved when Er Tai courts Sai Ya as a favour to Er Kang and the two fall in love.
The story concludes with a ceremony, during which Zi Wei is proclaimed Ming Zhu Ge Ge (Princess Bright Pearl). Qianlong also announces a betrothal between Xiao Yan Zi and Yong Qi, Zi Wei and Er Kang, and Er Tai and Sai Ya. The three couples, along with Jin Suo, end the series by riding on horseback through the countryside. They sing happily with joy.